Artwork
Susanna van Collen née Mogge and her daughter
Susanna van Collen née Mogge and her daughter is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hermanus Numan. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Hermanus Numan’s 1788 oil portrait presents Susanna van Collen, née Mogge, and her young daughter within an interior that reflects the refined domestic settings of late‑18th‑century Holland. The composition places the mother, dressed in an elaborate blue gown with a towering white wig, beside her child, who kneels with a basket, both framed by dark wooden paneling, a carved mantelpiece and a gilded mirror.
Subject & Meaning
The sitters are identified as Susanna Cornelia Mogge, a woman of status linked to the locales of Welland, Haamstede and Koudekerke, and her daughter, whose presence underscores familial continuity and the social importance of motherhood. The objects they hold—a small box for the mother and a basket for the child—suggest domestic responsibilities and the transmission of household duties across generations.
Technique & Style
Numan employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated faces to emerge from the shadowed background, thereby emphasizing the subjects’ expressions. The painter’s handling of fabric is meticulous: the mother’s dress is rendered with layered ruffles and delicate lace, while the child’s simpler white dress features a pink trim and a modest bow, illustrating a nuanced hierarchy of attire.
History & Provenance
Born in Ezinge and trained in Groningen, Haarlem and Paris, Numan settled in Amsterdam where he became known for portraiture and decorative work. This particular painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of Dutch 18th‑century art, documenting both the artist’s oeuvre and the social milieu of his patrons.
Context
Created during the Rococo period, the work reflects the era’s taste for elegant interiors, light coloration and graceful poses. While the Dutch adaptation of Rococo was more restrained than its French counterpart, Numan’s portrait captures the period’s emphasis on refined domesticity, modest display of wealth, and the cultivated image of the provincial elite.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hermanus Numan (1744 – 9 March 1820) was a Dutch painter, draftsman, pastellist, etcher, engraver, watercolorist, set painter, decorator (interiors), art theorist, and publisher.
